Presidential Papers, Doc#283 To Sherman Adams, 12 August 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower
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Document #283; August 12, 1957
To Sherman Adams
Series: EM, AWF, DDE Diaries Series
The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, Volume XVIII - The Presidency: Keeping the Peace
Part II: Civil Rights; June 1957 to September 1957
Chapter 4: "Logic and reason must operate gradually"

 

Memorandum for Governor Adams: Attached is a supplement to the material Charlie Wilson left with me recently about the People-to-People program.1

I believe we should direct Arthur Larson to get someone on the job to follow up this matter energetically to see what we can possibly do to get this whole program off the ground.2

As I understand the matter, Mr. Wilson has no doubt of the eventual success of the program, if he can first get the necessary money to organize and advertise the effort, including that part of the effort that involves raising money for local committees throughout the United States. He estimates he needs something like $350,000 a year for three years.3

USIA should make a complete and thorough study of the attached memorandum, after which they should promptly hold a conference with Mr. Wilson and decide on what is to be done.4

I still earnestly believe that this would be a great and useful effort in getting ahead in the cold war; but if we cannot get private interest developed in the country we had better stop worrying our friends with it.5

1 On August 1, at a White House meeting, Eisenhower and Charles Edward Wilson, president of the People-to-People Program, had discussed the financing of the project designed to promote international understanding through exchange of ideas (for background see no. 197). Wilson had given Eisenhower a "Summary of a Report to the President of the United States" (AWF/D). We have been unable to find the supplemental material in EM.

Wilson had reported that "certain unforeseen obstacles have appeared . . . that were not clear when [the program] was first announced." He went on to list as obstacles: insufficient funding for staff support in "so vast a voluntary program"; failure by chairmen to raise funds for individual committees; resistance by participating organizations whose members felt they were being ignored; reluctance of organizations to support the program until it is more clearly defined; and a suspicion of government, not private, control of the organization. Wilson recommended that the President assist the foundation in securing private funds; designate a week in January as People-to-People Week; and address a meeting of members over a nationwide broadcast during People-to-People Week to assure governmental help only at the "initial period of organization." The organization, Wilson wrote, needed strong financial leaders on its board of directors, "including well-known Democrats" and a finance committee appointed for fund raising. In addition to routine meetings, Wilson suggested that individual organizations represented in the Congress of European American Associations be contacted, as well as the Young Industrialists of Europe and labor organizations. He also thought radio and television sponsors could support the project. See also New York Times, June 10 and July 24, 1957.

2 The program currently was operating under the Office of Private Cooperation of the United States Information Agency. Wilson had recommended that USIA Director Larson work out details of transferring leadership to the foundation once it became private and define lines of communication for the "most effective operation" of the program. He also thought the term "Foundation" should be dropped "to eliminate confusion with established financial foundations." The new name, he said, should be People-to-People, Inc.

3 Wilson had recommended that the President assist the Foundation to secure from private sources $250,000 a year for three years.

4 On August 28 the President would meet with Wilson, Adams, and Larson to discuss some governmental support of the program. Afraid that committeemen could not raise sufficient private funding, Wilson would request government support amounting to $100,000 per year for three years (Ann Whitman memorandum, AWF/AWD, Aug. 22, 28, 1957).

5 As it turned out, the People-to-People Program would begin operating as a private organization in September (see New York Times, Sept. 26, Oct. 5, 22, 1957). For developments see no. 350.

Bibliographic reference to this document:
Eisenhower, Dwight D. To Sherman Adams, 12 August 1957. In The Papers of Dwight David Eisenhower, ed. L. Galambos and D. van Ee, doc. 283. World Wide Web facsimile by The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission of the print edition; Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1996, http://www.eisenhowermemorial.org/presidential-papers/second-term/documents/283.cfm

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